DISABLED people in financial need are unaware of the help available through charitable grants, say Turn2Us, part of the national charity Elizabeth Finn Care.
More than two-thirds of Turn2us website users with disabilities were completely unaware of grants and nearly half had been struggling financially for over a year before checking what support could be available to them.
Almost three-quarters have been forced to cut back on food and heating, and over three-fifths had to rely on the financial support of family and friends.
In addition, more than a quarter have taken out a short-term or payday loan, and almost a fifth have turned to food banks.
There are over 3,000 grant-giving charities available in the UK, distributing £288 million in grants and services to individuals in need every year.
Alison Taylor, director of Turn2us, said: “More needs to be done to help raise awareness of the vital support provided by grant-giving charities.
“People can be reluctant to turn to charities for help but feedback from individuals using our services shows that once they have sought help, receiving a grant has an overwhelmingly positive financial and emotional impact on their lives.
“With new reports showing that there are an extra 300,000 households living in poverty in the UK than previously thought, the need for support has never been greater. Through our campaign we hope to reach out to more people in need and encourage them to check their eligibility for help today.”
Individuals who have used the charity’s website have seen an average annual income increase of over £2,400 in regular charitable grants and over £550 in one-off grants.
